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South Hall Complex

The University of Edinburgh, Pollock Halls of Residence, 18 Holyrood Park Road, Edinburgh, EH16 5AR

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Access Guide

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Overview

Getting Inside

  • The approach to the building is step-free level.
  • The approach to the building from the centre of the Pollock Halls Site (by the John McIntyre Conference Centre) has steep ramps and slopes.
  • South Hall Complex has 3 entrances.
    All three entrances provide step-free access to the ground floor via steep ramps.
    There are two sets of double manual doors at the main entrance, with the Holland House Courtyard entrance and Holland Microlab entrance both having a single manual door.
  • The main entrance is signed as "South Hall Complex - The University of Edinburgh Conferences and Events: South Hall & Kirkland Holland House - Reception Blocks A & B".
    The Holland House Courtyard entrance is signed as "South Hall Complex - The University of Edinburgh Conferences and Events: Holland House" The Holland Microlab entrance is signed as "Holland Microlab" on the approach, and then "Holland House: Micro-Lab" above the door.
  • The main entrance provides step-free access to the ground floor via a steep ramp.
  • The Holland House Courtyard entrance is located to the left of the building, off the courtyard.
    The Holland Microlab entrance is located to the rear left of the building, off the courtyard.

Getting Around

  • There is step-free access throughout the ground floor of the building, via slight ramps (which bypass any steps). There is step-free access throughout the first floor of the building; however access to the first floor is via stairs only (there is no lift).
  • On the ground floor, there are 4 steps leading down into South Hall after entering the room. There is a slight ramp located to the right as you face South Hall from within the Holland Foyer, which is used for step-free access to South Hall and bypasses the steps detailed above. There is a slight ramp leading down to the South Hall toilets from within South Hall.
  • Floor surfaces along all circulation routes are hard and smooth. All flooring has a shiny finish, while some is also patterned.
  • There are resting areas in some circulation and lobby areas with a mixture of seating.
  • There is some wall-mounted wayfinding signage provided in the building for certain rooms and toilet facilities.
  • There are some manual doors along circulation routes throughout the building.

Emergency Egress for Building

  • General Building Information View
    • Please note the fire evacuation strategy from the upper floors of this building relies on the ability to self-transfer in to an evacuation chair.

Toilet and Changing Facilities

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • There are 2 toilets with adaptations.
    • Toilets with adaptations are located to the right inside the standard male toilet area off the Holland Foyer, and through the door to the rear right of South Hall upon entering, then to the left along the corridor, through the lobby area and on your right.
    • The transfer space varies between left and right in the toilets with adaptations.
    • Ambulant toilet facilities are located to the left inside the standard female toilet area.
    • The male and female step-free toilet facilities are located to the right of the Holland Foyer as you enter the South Hall Complex through the main entrance. Also located through the door to the rear right of South Hall upon entering, then to the left along the corridor, through the lobby area and on your right.
    • The gender inclusive step-free toilet facilities are located on the first floor, up the spiral staircase in the Holland Foyer and straight ahead.
  • Changing Places and Changing Facilities View
    • Parent and baby changing facilities are located within the Toilet with Adaptations - South Hall.
  • Washroom and Shower Facilities View
    • Standard shower facilities are located to the right inside the standard female toilet area off the Holland Foyer.

Rooms and Services in the Building

Parking

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located in front of the building, to the right and past the Scott Hotel as you enter the Pollock Halls Site via the Dalkeith Road access point.
    • The car park is open air/surface.
    • The car park surface consists of tarmac.
    • There are no designated Blue Badge parking bays available.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • This car park is for visitors, Blue Badge holders and permit holders only.
    • Parking is free for all users.
    • Clearly presented parking signs are not available.
    • View information on parking policies/charges (opens new tab).
    • Parking is extremely limited here, with only four spaces, two of which are reserved.
      All visitors, including Blue Badge holders, must apply for a permit in order to park anywhere on the Pollock Halls site, via following the links on the webpage given above.
      Blue Badge holders attending events in the South Hall Complex may be given permission to park in one of the reserved spaces here - please contact the venue in advance of your visit if you wish to do this.
  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop-off point available.

Entrance (Main Entrance)

  • This entrance is located at the front of the building, leading in from the car park.
  • The approach to the entrance has uneven surfaces.
  • The entrance area is clearly signed.
  • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
  • There is step-free access via ramp at the entrance.
  • The ramp has a steep gradient.
  • The ramp is over 150cm wide with no handrails.
  • There is a bell at a height of 122cm.
  • The bell is for out of hours/staff access only.
  • There are double manual doors at this entrance.
  • The doors open towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 142cm.
  • The doors have a low visual contrast.
  • There is a second set of double manual doors .
  • The second set of doors open towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 141cm.
  • The second set of doors have a low visual contrast.

Stairs (Inside South Hall - Access to Boardroom - Meeting Room 4)

  • The stairs surveyed are located immediately to your right as you enter South Hall through its main entrance.
  • The ground floor and first floor can be accessed by these stairs.
  • There are 20+ steps between floors.
  • The steps are unmarked and have a handrail on the right going up.
  • The handrail is easy to grip.
  • The handrail covers the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • The handrail does not extend horizontally beyond the first and last step.
  • The height of the steps is between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the highest step is 17cm.
  • The depth of the steps is not between 30cm and 45cm.
  • Lighting levels vary due to the use of large glazed walls.
  • Lighting levels are adjustable.
  • The first 11 steps have handrails on both sides.
    Alternatively, the first floor can be accessed via a spiral staircase from within the Holland Foyer.
    The spiral staircase has 19 steps, each 19cm high, and with a handrail on the left going up. These steps have open risers and markings with a low colour contrast.

Toilet with Adaptations (Off Holland Foyer - No Transfer Space)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located to the right inside the standard male toilet area off the Holland Foyer.
    • The distance from the South Hall Complex main entrance (second set of doors) is 15m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access, manual doors, narrow walkways and narrow openings.
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens inwards and has a high visual contrast.
    • The width of the door opening is 77cm.
    • The door has a twist lock.
    • Internally the door has a medium visual contrast.
    • There is not a grab rail on the internal door .
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the cubicle are 113cm (width) x 215cm (depth) and there is not room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
    • There is not a lateral transfer space next to the toilet.
    • There is a lever flush on the right as you face the toilet.
    • There is a horizontal grab rail on the right as you face the toilet.
    • The horizontal grab rail has a medium visual contrast.
    • There are vertical grab rails on both sides of the toilet.
    • The vertical grab rails have a medium visual contrast.
    • There is no dropdown rail for the toilet.
    • The toilet seat is 48cm from the floor.
    • The toilet seat has a low visual contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted toilet roll holder which can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder has a high visual contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 98cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin and taps cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 72cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin has a lever mixer tap.
    • The vertical grab rail is on the left as you face the wash basin.
    • The wash basin grab rail has a medium visual contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted soap dispenser which cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The soap dispenser has a high visual contrast.
    • The soap dispenser is 107cm from the floor.
    • There is a wall mounted towel dispenser which cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser has a high visual contrast.
    • The towel dispenser is 127cm from the floor.
    • There is not a hand dryer.
    • There is no emergency alarm.
    • There is a mirror.
    • There is no shelf.
    • The cubicle has a waste bin.
    • There are no coat hooks.
    • The walls and floor visual contrast varies between low and high.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
    • The door to access the standard male toilet area, in which the toilet with adaptations is located, has a high colour contrast and opens inwards to a width of 74cm.
      There is no signage indicating the presence of the toilet with adaptations inside this area on this door.

Toilet with Adaptations (South Hall - Left Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located through the door to the rear right of South Hall upon entering, then to the left along the corridor, through the lobby area and on your right.
    • The distance from the main entrance is 101m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has slight ramps or slopes, manual doors, doors permanently held open and narrow walkways.
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens inwards and has a high visual contrast.
    • The width of the door opening is 88cm.
    • The door has a lever twist lock.
    • Internally the door has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a grab rail on the internal door with a high visual contrast.
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the cubicle are 189cm (width) x 212cm (depth) and there is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
    • There is a lateral transfer space to the left as you face the toilet.
    • The lateral transfer space is 116cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
    • There is a lever flush on the non-transfer side.
    • There is a horizontal grab rail on the non-transfer side.
    • The horizontal grab rail has a low visual contrast.
    • There is a vertical grab rail on the transfer side.
    • The vertical grab rail has a low visual contrast.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The dropdown rail has a low visual contrast.
    • The toilet seat is 54cm from the floor.
    • The toilet seat has a low visual contrast.
    • The toilet has a padded backrest.
    • There is a wall mounted toilet roll holder which can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder has a low visual contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 95cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin and taps cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 81cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin has a lever mixer tap.
    • The vertical grab rail is on the left as you face the wash basin.
    • The wash basin grab rail has a low visual contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted soap dispenser which cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The soap dispenser has a low visual contrast.
    • The soap dispenser is 87cm from the floor.
    • There is a wall mounted towel dispenser which cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser has a low visual contrast.
    • The towel dispenser is 118cm from the floor.
    • There is a wall mounted hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer has a low visual contrast.
    • The hand dryer is 120cm from the floor.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm but it was tied up at the time of the survey.
    • There is a full length mirror.
    • There is no shelf.
    • The cubicle has a waste bin.
    • There are no coat hooks.
    • The height of the baby change facility when in use is 99cm.
    • The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.